Adjustable collapsible bier and top therefor



Jan 23, W23. LMlEJWS W. I. LEITCH. I ADJUSTABLE COLLAPSIBLE BIER AND Tor THEREFOR.

FILED JUNE 27. 1921 2 SHEETS'SHEET I WM/mh I. Le/fc/z ATTO NEYS Jan u: 193.

. W. I LE TCH ADJUSTABLE COLLAFSIBLE B ER AND ToP THEREFOR 2 SHEETSSHEET 2} Fl LED JUNE 27, 1921 INVENTOR. MM I 46 725 Patented den. 23, W23,

lht ttdtii WILLIAM I, LEITCH, 01F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ADJUSTABLECOLLAPSIBLE BIER AND T01 THEREFOR.

Application filed. June 27, 1921. $eria1 No. 480,545.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that 1, WILLIAM I. Lnrron, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful In1- provement in Adjustable Collapsible Biers and Tops Therefor, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The present invention relates to a collapsible and adjustable bier and a top for the same which is also collapsible, so that the bier and top may be folded into compact units and thus handled and carried about easily. One of the objects is the provision of a bier which may be adjusted for various sized coffins and which will be with its top, suitable for the usual standard sizes of coffins now in use. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed outin the claims.

'lhe annexed drawing and the following descriptimi set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the inventioiii, such disclosed means constituting, hmvever, but one of Various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the bier and the top in place; Fin. 2 is a side elevational view of the same: Fig. 3 a. sectional view thrruigli the collapsible top show" ing the position of certain of the parts when collapsed in dotted lines; {this rear elevational view of the top in its ollapsed c position on the line 4e4 of Fig! 3; Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the bier in its extended condition showing the use of the center insert; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-G of Fig. 5: Fiog. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Figs. 8 and 9 are elevational viewsof the two pieces shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 10 isa rear clevational The present bier is shown as being made so that it may be used with the three ordinary sizes of coffins which are full size, jun- 1or size, and baby size. In Fig. 5 the bier is shown as being ready to receive a full size coffin while the bier proper shownin Fig. 1 W111 take a junior size coffin and when the collapsible top is used, the bier will receive a baby. size coiiin. As best shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5, the bier consists of threesections, 1, 2 and 3, the two outer sections 1 and 3, being provided with hinged ends 4 so that the outer front sections and the ends may be folded flat together in order to pack" and carry the bier. These sections are adapted to be removably attached together and in Fig. 5 the front sections are shown as having their meeting faces 5 provided with interlocking members so that they can be attached together securely when the bier is set up. As best shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9,

the meeting surface of the end member 1 is provided with a plate 6 having two or more lugs 7 formed thereon which lugs areadapted to be received in bayonet slots 8 formed in a second plate 9 mounted in a recess 10 in the end ll. of the intermediate section 2. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, any two adjacent sections i'i'iay :uljust tljieinselves to variations in floor level as the pins"? can move slightly in the slots 8 without disengagement and thus the ordinary inequalities in floor level will be compensated for asthesections will automatically adjust themselves to the floor level, due to this'possible vertical movement of the pins 7 in the slots 8. The right hand end of the intermediate section 2 as shown in Pig. 5, also provided with a lugged plate 6 while the surface the end section 3 at the right of 5 has aslotted plate 9 s' that the bier may be put together leavin out the center section shownin Fig. 1,

i The sections of this bier are formed with. i

a bottom molding 1.5 which is provided with a square frame '16 having a second molding on top Removable panels 18 are mounted in these frame members. the frames being rabbctted as at 19 to receive the panels and key slots or recesses 20 are formed in the frames to receive the eccentrically mounted locks 21 carried on thebaclzs of the panels.

The moldings are adapted to be covered by r mqv b e sle ves which fit over themold ings themselves and are made the proper length to cover the molding of one section. These removable sleeves 22 and the removable panels 18 will be covered with suitable material so that the bier may substantially conform to the appearance of the casket. here a wooden, cloth covered casket .is employed, similar cloth covered sleeves and panels will be used. If a metal casket is employed the sleeves and the panels will be made of the same metal as the casket and thus the appearance ofthe casket and the bier can readily be made to conform to each other. It is understood of course that the bier as shown, is open at the back and the casket merely rests upon the upper surfaces of the front and end sections. Of course extra sections to close the back may be employed as the sections fit together by means of the lugs and bayonet slots, it is possible to slightly vary the relative position of the sections to compensate for uneven floor condireadily handled.

tions and thus the bier when set up, is not only secure but can be made to furnish an even top surface for the casket.

The collapsible top- 25 which is used with the bier for small caskets has a rigid upwardly inclined front member 26 to which are hinged the end pieces 27 which are similarly inclined upwardly and inwardly and this front member 26 is provided with a narrow, horizontal top rail 28 to which is hinged the remainder 29 of the top which in its normal position, rests upon the upper surfaces of the end members but which may be folded downwardly into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 when the top is collapsed. To collapse the top, the end members 27 are swung inwardly against the front member as best shown in Fig. 4 and then hinged top portion 29 is folded down over the end members until the top is collapsed as shown in Fig. 4t and in dotted lines in Fig. 3. It may then be placed in a suitable carrying case so that it may be The end members of the top are provided with pins 30 which it with in suitable complementary holes in the end members of the bier so that when the top placed in position on the bier it s secured thereto against accidental remov The top and the bier are t only collapsible but together form ad ustable bier which may be used with caskets of practically any size and the bier and top when collapsed may be easily and readily handled carried about. By the use of the removable sleeves and panels, a single bier with a set of sleeves and panels, may be made to conform to practically all of the styles of caskets and as the user of the bier knows the type of casket which is to be used with the bier at any particular time, it is merely necessary to change the panels and carry'along the extra sleeves which fit lhc moldings and may thus be carried in place with the sections of the bier.

The present bier construction is such that the bicr. when erected, forms a box which is closed at the front and at the ends and merely opens at the back, the front and ends being .in substantial alignment with the front face and the ends of the casket, so as to close the air space under the casket from view and thus break up the lines of the casket proper. In this manner the space under the casket is closed instead of being substantiall open as is the case where pcdestals or stools are used, on which the casket is mounted.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, novided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and. distinctly claim as my invention 1. In a collapsible bier, the combination of outer front sections having ends hinged thereto, a removable center front section adapted to lit between said outer sections, and interlocking members on the ends of said outer sections and said removable section. whereby said sections may be locked together to form a bier which is closed across the front of the casket.

:2. In a. collapsible bier, the combination of outer sections having ends hinged thereto, a removable center section adapted to fit between said outer sections, and adjustable in terlocking members on the ends of said outer sections and said center section whereby said sections may be scoured together and adjust ed as to height.

3. In a collapsible bier and top, the combination of a bier comprising front sections adapted to be removably connected together and each section having an end hinged thereto and adapted to be folded flat against the front section. and a collapsible top ada ited in be reniovably mounted on said bier, said top ha ing hinged ends and hinged top portion adapted to be folded into a substantially fiat package to allow said bier and top to be pa 1 ogether in a fiat case when collapsed.

4;. In a collapsible bier and top. the combination of a bier comprising l'ront sections havingends lunged thereto. and a collapsible top adapted to rest on said bier and comprising a front member, having, two ends hinged thereto, and a top member hingcdly attached to said front member.

5. In a collapsible top for a bier, the combination of a front member, two ends hinged to said front member, a top rail attached to said front member, and a top portion hinged to said rail and. adapted to be pulled down ltlll lllla .llO

Ill"

li M15185 over said end pieces when said top is collapsed to form a substantially flat folded device.

6. ln a collapsible top for a bier the combination of a front member, two ends hinged to said front member, and adapted to be folded against the rear of said front member a top rail attached to meld :ti'ont member and a top portion hinged to said rail and adapted to be folded down over said ends when said top is collapsed to form a substantially flat folded device.

7. In a collapsible bier l'or caskets, the

combinatioiil of two outer front sections each having an end hinged thereto and adapted lug means on the meeting inner ends, said sections also being adapted to be erected into a box closed at the front and ends un der and substantially in alignment with the front and end edges of the casket to close the air space under the same from View.

Signed by me, this 23rd day of June, 1921.

WILLIAM I. LEITCH. 

